Paper sorting machine



June 30,- 1931.

P. F. DENNER ETAL PAPER SORTING .MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 30

r n R,v m mm@ m e R MDS 0 V T NFE T A MM @11V 1 a --1.w

June 3o, 1931.

P. F. DENNER ET AL PAPER soRTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30. 1928 5 SheelS--Sheetl 2 l* "INVENTOR Peter f1 Den/1er Job s-lis* l ATTORNEYS June 30, 1931. P. F. DENNER ETAL l PAPER SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1928 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR Pater E" Dem/1, 6r- Job C. E at A TTORNEYS l and; the" connecting pipes. 5 L Fig. 2 is a'plan View ofthe saine also broken @Yao Patented June-3o, 1931 l FABER soR'TING MncinNE application nieaaugfu'st :zo-,519921554 serial No? auas'ffiff This inventionrelates to improvements in :paper sorting machines. y

Y The objects of the invention are: K Y

First, to provide a complete papersorting f5 machine which permits inspection .of the sheet on both sides andafreadysorting of' the same. f

- 5 iSecond, yto providefanv iinproved (paper.

' "i Von 'line/959l of F igSJlf-and *57showing1 the ,-sprlngplunger slide forretiirn-ing the paper 60 sheet feed for such al machine.v l d 10 Third, tov provide .improved reversing lmechanism for turning the sheets bottomside K `Fourth,to provide improvedsheetreject'.-

ing and discard means.; 1 'f 15 '."Ob'ects pertainingto details and .ecoIio-A mies Will appear `from, thel detailed descrip.-

tion` to follow; We 'have illustrated a preferr'ed embodimentof-the machine,y mythe y ampfanying drawings, inlwhiohff 20 1 Fig. 1 is a side elevation View from thelefthand sideofa machineembodying thedea'- tures yofi.our invention; broken intosections,

thesuction and air supply and powervmeans vbeingonly' indicated'by the presence of'belts into sections, similar'to the elevation v'ieW.-

i'sfa detail transverse'sectional ele vation taken on line 3-3 of Figs. 1, 2 and 4:.' Fig. 4' ,is an 'enlarged' detail i sectional elekvation. on line 4.4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3., `1

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional .ele- Y vvation', nparts being tbrokeny away,ftakeri on line 5-5'of FigsQand 3,'showin` details 35 of the, carriage,'of the pneumaticgpic -up`idvices, and f'carrying-`1neans,athe'pneumatlc "'picklup being v in anwinterlediate"position and the l'return chain ,andwinglink being a,

the pn'eiiinatic falixiliary' y ievice thereio-fare jalso'sho'wn. y., y i Fig. 6 is an :enlarged'sdetail sectionalvie'w 'similar tofFig'.'5v hwithl the 'pneulfnatiepick-11pv devices at the point of picking upa'sheet-,fthe e means therefor beingshown inthat posY G0 n "and 4, 'Carriage 'return'chain Vbeing in -icatedr PETER E. nENNEca-,ANDFJOBd-nsrnsor, K'ALAivrAzpzvo,l viuriciireh*.151y

controlling 1th 6 is the 4endless' main carrier extending erate Withthe upper run ofthe conveyor s gnain carrier"6, see 5,f AGruid-efinge `of .the pick-11p control vmeans being shown. f?

F ig.f8'ist an' enlarged Adetail sectional elefi fvation ,viewon'-line;8%8"ofFigs. 12 and/2 showing the control cam-fand :valve means for 5,5 'i

efsuction to the pneumatic Q sheet'pick-upmeans f:",i'xy Y ly i'. Fig. 9 is an enlarged' detail sectional view feed.. carriage to its initial'position. f The parts will be# 'identified bytheirfnu# merals of referen celvvhicharev the sai'ne'in` Vthevievvs.'y Y

.flis the-,frame of the niachine,;rectangular ,6 5 i in Aformf andl carried bylegs 2 and;V B fateach A@nd respectively.. 4 vis thesheetsupporting y table withscrews 41 or other nieansflfor main? `taining the same .atproper'heightifor theildesv livery ofthe sheetsto be sorted. "isxa' similar 70 1 n 'table adj ustable by screws *5 1* or other means for receiving the sheets thathave. passed spec-tion. f 1

frornend to end Lofthera'meil and consist-Q ing oa-number of parallel belts on carriery rolls 61:and62supprted at oppositerends -of the machine.` Zi'sfan auxiliaryfreversev f 'endless carrier comprising' parallelj-beltssiip-k I "ported onrolls71,72.which are .provided with 80 journals" 73,74: carried in journal bearing l boxes, 76'snpportedron thefsidevrails'ffj i d y the frame l, in positionso that theirundeiggriin4 vof theconvevor? in "closeproziinity tocoo'A je isis sheet; qffjpaperbeing revepsdd elivered'from the aiixiliaryf'cariier-fr'fto the, delivery ofthe sheets from `the conveyor 7toiconveyor 6,"as seen .in Figf.l ;'v j

Feedcarriage.12fis4pr'videdfondeliiiering the axles for the carriage. Flanged wheels 123 are journalled on the ends of the axle.

13 is the track for the feed carriage made up of a pair of parallel bars which constitute a positive slotted guide for the said carriage at each side of the machine. These bars 13 are extended forwardly and curved down at 131, to guide the sheet pick-up means, (see Figs. 1, 5 and 6) hereafter to be described, and are supported by suitable standards 14 and 15 which join to the sides of the frame 1, 15 being a post which supports other devices as well. Y

The pneumatic pick-up heads 16 are supported adjustably upon the square rockshaft 17 (see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 This rockshaft is carried by Va pair of forwardly extending links 18 from the carriage 12 and is supported upon guiding carryingv wheels or rolls 171 which travel on the track and between the' guides 131, 131 already referred to. 19 are the suction tips carried by the suction heads and are required to point directly down in order to properly handle the sheets. They are maintained in parallel position by controlling t-he rockshaft 17. Fingers 172 are connected to blocks 173 on the rockshaft 17 for controllingthe same, see particularly Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7.

20 is an adjustable guide bar secured by screw 201 in slot 202 to the carriage end 121. Bar 20 is bent upwardly at 203 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6) and is slotted at 204 and embracesl and engages the upwardly projecting finger 172'for controlling the rockshaft 17l to maintain the suction tips pointing downward. .The action will be very readily understood from a consideration offFigs. 4

and 5 in connection with Fig. 6 where it will be noted that although the rockshaft has dropped down to the'engaging or pick-up position the suction tips are still in vertical relation.

Each suction head 16 is connected by flexible rubber pipe 161 to suction header 162 supported on posts 163 at each side of' the fra-me considerably above the level of the feed carriage to permitsfr'ee movement thereof. The suction is cont-rolled by means hereafter to be described. f

The feed carriage is actuatedV in the feeding direction by a pair of endless conveyor chains 21 carried on sprocket wheels 211, 212 and guide 213, the under run of which chain 21 travels parallel with the straight portion of the track13 at a safe distance above the carriage. The same is provided at suitable intervals with wing links 214 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

The carriage ends 121 are provided with upwardly projecting lugs 124 in position to be engaged by the wing link 214. The en- Uagement of these parts is shown in Fig. 4.

e action-of the endless chain carries the carriage to the left of Fig. 4 until the Ilug l214 is swung out of engagement with the lug 124. This carries the feed carriage to the left to the limit of its travel and when it is released the carriage is permitted to return. The track 13 is slightly inclined so that the action might be by gravity. The return is also insured by spring action.

A slide 22 is disposed between the guide rails 13, 13 and is backed up by compression spring 23 which abuts against block 24 (see Fig. 5) so that as soonas the wing link 214 has passed out of engagement with the lug 124, spring 23 shoots the carriage back to its initial position at a very high rate of speed, passing the feed carriage back to the initial position and delivering the suction tips down sharply against the top sheet of paper, when the suction picks it up and the feed operation is repeated, carrying the sheet forward onto Lthe top run of conveyor 7, the suction being controlled to release the paper when it is advanced to the maximum position.

The paper on the feed table is kept agitated by what may be called the riiiie nozzles 25 carried on the header 251 in position to blow y 'e against the front edge of the pile of sheets that is being` inspected and sorted, the header being provided with air under pressure from any suitable source, suitably controlled to deliver the right ramount to do the work` in` tended. The. delivery of the jets is constant. lt will be observed that as soon as the sheet is picked up a volume of air is delivered nnder it so that it cannot adhere to the sheet beneath and it will be very readily picked 'I up at a high rate of speed without danger of tearing or of disturbing the next sheet.

Air 'nozzles 26' connected to header 261 deliver jets of air downwardly against the sheet as it is being fed in tending to force the :sheet down into engagement with the top run of the Iconveyor 7, so that the sheet will be certainly delivered under the. guide lingers 10 and thence between the under run of con- -veyor 7 and the top run of conveyor 6, consequently air pressure is also provided at the header 261 from the compressed-air source, which, of course, may be a pump or a pressure tank'or other supply as required, not

lnecessary here to be illustrated.

Suction header 162is connected by pipe 164 to the control valve means which controls the action of `the. suction pipe 165, (see Fig. 8) the suction pipe being a flexible pipe connected to a vacuum pump or other vacuum v.

producing means. The control is a slide valve 27 which carries the flexible end of pipe 165 at one end in position to connect to thepipe 164. Slide 27 is perforated at 271 to slide over the end of supply pipe 163 and open the saine 'to the atmosphere, thereby breaking the suction. The slide valve 27 is pushed normally Ioutward by a pair of compression springs 272. The slide valve 27 carries a cam follower'roller 273; A face cam 28 ist-carried."

lol

-sheet has on a camshaft 281 which isan extension. of the driven shaft to the machine. f f

. The cam is timed to open the suction. gradually as the paperrea'ches its rfeed,delivery .position and as soon as the paper has been dropped and'carried out of thecontrolof the suction tips, the slide snapsoff the abrupt end .of the cam, vclosing .the suction, which im# mediately builds up ready'tov pick up the sheet when the carriage .is vcarried to the initial position. y 1" 1 VIt will thus be seen lthat as a sheet ispicked up by the suctionIv tips, the sheetisfagitated bythe rifler jet a Volume of air is delivered underfthe same at once it is raised', the sheet isy carried to. the auxiliary V.feedconveyor v7, the sheet is forced down onto the conveyor by air from'the jets 26, which causesthe sheet to adhere closely to the conveyor v'Zand' .the

sheet is thus reversed and passed on tothe main conveyor 6,.being turned over bottom side up inthe process; The inspector is thus able yto inspect thet-op side of they top vsheet on the table,.it is then picked up by the machine vandturnedthe other side upyand as soon as it passesout from under the auxiliary Vreversing conveyor 7 the opposite side of' the sheet canbe inspected. Thus both sides of thew sheet are inspected without any manual han-V dling. n x Y VIf the sheet passes'inspection, itl is allowed to pass along the conveyor 6 out to thefreceiving'table 5. .The sheet isheld momentarily on the conveyor to permit such inspection. If

- l the sheet does not pass inspection, means are provided for diverting it fromthe conveyor `and sorting it as required.

The sheet vis controlled on.v thelconveyor 6 .1

after iit has been reversed by the rocker.y 29k on the rockshaft 291, the same being provided Y with upwardly projecting fingers 292 which projectup between the belts' of the conveyor '6 see Fig. l) to 'engagethe sheet and.Vr detain yituntil it has `been inspectedf A finger 293 projects from the rocker and is acted upony l by'cam 30 which isprovided withdwells both Y von the. fat and lean sideito. holdrthe` paper momentarily for inspection,v deiyiect the retaining lingers 292 and .hold the same* depressed sufficiently long for the sheet to passon if the be rejected.

Camshaft 301 is driven chain "302;by

suitable connection to 'the' driving lmeans timed to 'securey this result. 'r Springf303 is V:provided to `ho-l'd the rocker finger in engage-y ment withthe'saidfcam. i y x The sheet.V deflected Vand which are deflectedup through the'upper run of the conveyor vGand defiectthesheetx'upwardly from the l said conveyor 6., These A i lingers arecontrolledmanually bythe lever '312. yThe sheetis also deflected upwardly byl tages.

passed inspection. "I iliesheetmay .ters Patent,lis': l 4 f 1.'-In fa paper sorting' machine,"the com; bination .ofi amain frame with i endlessmain conveyor of parallel conveyor belts extending. vfrom lenol to end thereof, `a paper feed-table y Y c I discharged the'operation of amanualflevenlby the operiation ofa rocker 3l having Vguide lingers 311' Vjet'siof.V air through nozzles 32,0n header`322. '.T-he `air ycu'rrentris controlled by cock 323 whichfis connected tothe manual lever312.

provided yforthe same. as may be' desired. fz.. 'i From ,this description the =operationis clear.V 4Two personsare necessary toproperly inspecti the paper handled by ourma'chine. f

.One person inspects the'top side of the'utop sheet on .thepile from which sheets are being delivered. Another kpersonat the side ofthe machine inspects the sheet :whileit isstopped lmomentarilyon the upper runnofconveyor 6 after thesheet has'y been turned-over,thlrlsy Vboth sides are inspected. This .second operf ator.' hasy the duty jofmani'pulating the hand lever-.312 to,rejectfthedefective sheetsfalt'fis 1 I only necessary to let the. j perfect: sheet. pass. y

fthrough. The `sheet. is-.lpicked iup ;by the lpneumatic tips, Vdeliveredl onto theLtop ofthe conveyor 7 whereit is forced. down :by Vair from-the jet 26 intoienga'gement with the said conveyor,y then` passed 'back Aunderthe guide fingers 10,turned bottom'side upon the conf veyor 6 delivered beyond )the lconveyory 7-t on conveyor` Glfor inspection, beingdetainedby y l f the stop fingers292whichare automatically "deflected by the camBOa; After the sheet has beenY stopped 'long enough for inspection, when i the-fingers are depressed, ,the camf 30 `,holds them'fdown until thesheet has passed.

VIf vthe .sheet does netpass inspection, the

operator presses the'1even312z-which opensl the air'jet 32`anddefiects thesheet upward lover the lingers 3l into the` pair of conveyors discharge conveyor 35or to a dischargeref- 'ceptacleas v.the casemay be.

.details withouti'departing. from *ourl invention. vSome of the features couldbe dropped,v

droppingv ,their corresponding miram-r (thus We desire pitoV An examination of., our improved ymachine will show Vthatit canbe modified ,in many 105vr `33, ft'wherethe sheetisconveyed out tothe ilo specific form .-in whichwe have' itillu'strated fand also tofclaim it broadly-fas. pointed outr .in'thefappended claims. .f

, Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desireto secure by Let'- Awithnueans yfor maintaining it at-proper level and sheet yreversing meansfabove said mainv l conveyor, aifeed carriage,suitable guides to i. carry the said feedcarriage from the paper feed table upwardly-,and forwardly tofa point above the said reverse means, actuating means vfor said carriage, pneumatic suction heads with suction tips for engaging the top sheet of the pile of paper being inspected, a header with suction connection for said suction heads and tips, automatic control means for the suction connection comprising a slide valve Awith a connection to the suction hose and having a port opening to break the suction, a timed cam for actuating the said slide valve, and means for deiiecting sheets from said main conveyor after inspection, as specified.

2. In a paper sorting machine, the combination of a main frame with endless main conveyor of parallel conveyor belts extending from end to end thereof, a paper feed table with means for maintaining it at proper level andfeed means for said sheets and reversing means for said sheets, a rocker with detent lingers with stops disposed to project between the bands of the upper run of the main conveyor to intermittently act to stop successive sheets for inspection, a cam means for actuating the rocker to rais-e it to successively and intermittently detain the successive sheets for inspection and lower it to permit the said sheets to pass, deflector lingers on a rocker beyond the said stop means and Yinspection space adapted to deflect a rejected sheet upwardly, a hand'lever to operate the same, air nozzle means with header and supply, a cut-off valve therefor connected to said hand lever to deliver jets of air under `the sheet simultaneously with its defiection, a pair of auxiliary endless conveyors above -said main conveyor to engage the said deflected sheet and discharge it from the machine, as specified. i

3. In a paper sorting machine, the combination of .a main frame with endless main conveyor of parallel conveyor belts extending from. end'to end thereof, a paper feed table with means for maintaining it at proper level and feed means for said sheets and reversing means for said sheets, a rocker with detent fingers with stops disposed to project between the bands of the upper run of the main conveyor to intermittently actto stop successive sheets for inspection, a cam means for actuating the rocher to raise it to successively and intermittently detain the successive sheets for inspection and lower it to permit the said sheets to pass, deflector fingers on a rocker beyond the said stop means and inspection space adapted to deiiect a rejected sheet upwardly, a hand lever to operate the same, a pair of auxiliary endless con.- veyors above said main conveyor to engage the said deflected sheet and discharge it from the machine, as specified.

4. In a paper sorting machine,the combination of a main frame with endless main conveyor of parallel conveyor belts extending1 'from end to end thereof, a paper feed table .with means for maintaining it at proper level and feed means for said sheets and reversing means for said sheets, a rocker with detent fingers with stops disposed to project Vbetween the bands of the upper run of the main conveyor to intermittently act to stop successive sheets for inspection, a cam means for actuating the rocker to raise it to successively and intermittently detain the successive sheets for inspection and lower it to permit the said sheets to pass, means to deiiect a rejected sheet upwardly, a hand lever to operate the same, air nozzle means with header and supply, a cut-off valve therefor vconnected to said hand lever to deliver jets of air under the said sheet simultaneously with its deflection, a pair of auxiliary endless conveyors above said main conveyor to engage the said deflected sheet and discharge it from the machine, as specified.

5. In a paper sorting machine, the combination of a main frame'with endless main conveyor of parallel conveyor belts extending from end to end thereof, a paper feed table with means for maintaining it at proper level and feed means for said sheets Aand reversing means for said sheets, a rocker with detent fingers with stops disposed to project between the bands of the upper run of the main conveyor to intermittently act to stop successive sheets for inspection, a cam means for actuating the roclrer to raise4 it to successively and intermittently detain the successive she-ets for inspection and lower it to permit the said sheets to pass, deflector mea-ns, a pair of auxiliary endless conveyors above said main conveyor to engage the said deiiected sheet and discharge it from the machine, as specified.

6. In a paper sorting machine, the combination of a main frame with endless main conveyor of parallel conveyor Vbelts extend- 'ing from end to end thereof, a paper feed table with means for maintaining it at proper level and feed means for said sheets and reversing; means for said sheets, a rocker with detent fingers with stops disposed to project between the bands of the upper run of the main conveyor to intermittently act to stop successive sheets for inspection, a cam means for actuating the rocker to raise it to successively and intermittently detain the successive sheets for inspection and lower it to permit the said sheets to pass, and defiector means, as specified.

7. In a. paper sorting' machine', the combination of a. main frame with endless'main co-nveyor of parallel conveyor belts' extending from end toend thereof, a paper feed table with means for maintaining it at proper level and feed means for said sheets and reversing means for said sheets, deflector fingers on a rocker to deflect a rejected sheet upwardly, a hand lever to operate the same, air nozzlel means with header and supply, cutpf valve therefor connectedfto .aa-,id

hand lever to deliver jets of air under the sheet simultaneously with its deflection, a pair of auxiliary lendlessconveyors above said main conveyor to engage the said delected sheet and discharge it from'the Ina# chine, as specified. y

8. In a paper sortingy machine, the combination of amain endless conveyor, `an auxiliary endles's'conveyor having `flat upper e l@ run of less length disposedabove and in adf vance of the receiving end of the main conveyor, and connected to run in the opposite direction, means for delivering'the sheets to the auxiliaryconveyor and ylinger guide l' -means for guidingv them down against the main conveyor thence betweenV the `under run of the auxiliary conveyor and the upper. run ofthe main conveyor, for reversing the u sheet for inspection' on said main conveyor, as specified. y Y' Y P f 9. In a paper sorting machine, the comV` bination of a main framegwith endless main conveyor of parallel conveyor belts extending from end to endthereof, a paper feed e table With meansfor maintaining it at proper leveland feed means for said sheets, deiector fingers on a .rocker to deflect la rejected sheet upwardly, a hand lever to operate the same, air nozzlemeans with header and supply, a cut-olf valve therefor connected to said hand l lever to deliver jets of air under the sheet simultaneously'with its deflection, apair of auxiliary endless conveyors above vsaid main conveyor to engage the said, deected sheet ni discharge it from the machine, as speci-y In witness whereof'we have hereunto set our hands. Y f y f Y Y PETER F. DENNER.

1.o l JOB GESTES. j 

